■tx  ICtbrta 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


IVben  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever'tbing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


A  SERIES  OE  VIEWS  WITH  DESCRIPTIVE 

NOTES. 


GUSTAV  KOBBE  CO. 
Summit,  N.  J. 


f 


COPYRIGHT  1892,  BY  GUSTAV  KOBBE  CO. 
All  Rights  Reserved. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


THIS  work  aims  to  be  a  comprehensive  pictorial  description  of  New  York 
City.  No  description  in  words  can  be  as  graphic  and  satisfactory,  or 
present  an  object  so  completely  to  the  view  as  a  picture  of  the  object  itself ; 
and  when  this  picture,  like  the  illustrations  in  this  volume,  is  a  fine  reproduction 
of  a  fine  photograph,  it  may  be  considered  a  miniature  fac-simile  of  the  scene 
or  building  represented.  For  a  photograph  is  a  record  of  a  fact,  a  perfect  re- 
production of  a  thing  without  the  interposition  of  an  artist's  idealizing  fancy. 
Therefore  you  see  in  this  book,  New  York  as  it  really  is — not  as  this  one  or 
that  one  would  like  you  to  think  it  is. 

Besides  being  faithful  photographic  reproductions  of  the  objects  they  profess 
to  portray,  the  views  herein  differ  in  other  respects  from  the  ordinary  "  Souvenir " 
of  the  city.  The  Souvenir  confines  itself  to  views  of  the  harbor,  the  parks  and  a 
few  public  and  semi-public  buildings.  But  there  are  many  features  of  interest  besides 
these.  New  York  is  becoming  more  and  more  the  city  of  great  office  and  apartment 
buildings.  Office  buildings  tower  up  on  Broadway,  Wall  street,  and  numerous 
other  business  thoroughfares,  monuments  of  the  industrial  genius  and  energy  of 
New  York's  citizens.  Some  of  these  buildings  house  the  population  of  a  good 
sized  town,  and  represent  as  great  a  variety  of  industrial  enterprises.  The  great 
apartment  buildings  are  striking  features  of  the  uptown  residence  district.  It  is 
believed  that  special  value  has  been  given  to  this  volume  by  the  liberal  intro- 
duction of  the  views  of  these  large  buildings.  At  the  same  time,  public  buildings, 
art  gallaries,  churches  and  picturesque  scenes  on  the  harbor  and  in  the  parks 
have  not  been  overlooked — the  whole  forming  what  is  believed  to  be  a  complete 
pictorial  representation  of  the  metropolis  of  the   New  World. 

When  Henry  Hudson  first  sailed  up  the  noble  river  which  bears  his  name, 
in  September,  1609,  the  most  important  part  of  New  York  City,  the  Island  of 
Manhattan,  presented  a  charming  prospect  of  well-wooded  shores  rising  from  the 
lowland  at  its  southern  extremity  to  an  elevation  of  238  feet  at  what  is  now 
Washington  Heights.  The  interior  after  leaving  the  low  ground  at  the  south, 
was  a  lovely  stretch  of  rolling  country,  the  hills  alternating  with  valleys  clad 
in  Summer  with  the  soft  verdure  of  meadow-land,  through  which  pretty  brooks 
wound  their  courses  toward  the  rivers. 

What  a  change  has  come  over  the  aspect  of  the  Island  of  Manhattan 
since  those  early  days!  What  would  the  Indians  who  thronged  its  shores  when 
Henry  Hudson  sailed  up  the  harbor  in  the  Half  Mooti  say,  if  they  could  walk 
through  Wall  street,  with  its  rows  of  stately  buildings?  How  the  old  Dutch 
Governors  May,  Verhulst,  Minuit  or  Stuyvesant,  would  open  their  eyes,  if  they 
could  see  the  modern  surroundings  of  the  little  fort  they  erected  on  Bowling 
Green,  or  follow  up  the  country  road  which  led  out  of  the  fort,  and  find  it 
transformed  into  the  greatest  artery  of  commerce  in  the  new  world — Broadway  ! 


LIBERTY  ENLIGHTENING  THE  WORLD. 


ABOUT  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  total  immigration  into  the  United  States 
enters  the  country  through  New  York  Harbor.  The  approaches  of  New  York 
by  water  are  singularly  beautiful.  First,  the  Fire  Island  lighthouse,  rising  like  a 
warning  finger  from  the  low  Long-  Island  beach  is  sigfited.  In  contrast  to  this 
are  the  twin  lights  on  the  wooded  bluff  of  the  Highlands  of  Navesink.  guarded 
from  the  assaults  of  the  sea  by  Sandy  Hook  beach.  The  sail  up  the  bay  is 
one  of  varied  interest  and  beauty.  Sharp-prowed  steamers,  stately  four-masters, 
swan-like  yachts  and  saucy  tugs  are  features  of  a  constantly  shifting  scene.  The 
Narrows,  between  Staten  Island  and  Long  Island,  guarded  by  forts  on  either 
shore,  form  the  gateway  of  the  New  World.  They  lead  into  New  York  harbor. 
Sixty-five  per  cent,  of  the  foreign  commerce  of  the  whole  country  passes  through 
this  gateway. 

The  most  conspicuous  feature  in  the  view  after  the  harbor  is  entered  is 
the  "Liberty  Enlightening  the  World,"  or  Statue  of  Liberty,  as  it  is  popularly 
called.  It  stands  on  Bedloe's  Island,  appropriately  near  Ellis  Island,  where  the 
landing  depot  for  emigrants  is  located.  The  oppressed  of  foreign  lands,  who  seek 
refuge  in  this  country,  thus  land  under  the  very  aegis  of  Liberty  itself.  Not 
far  beyond  it  lies  the  southernmost  point  of  the  city,  "  the  Battery,"  and  as  the 
eye  follows  the  sweep  of  the  harbor  around  the  Battery  into  the  East  River,  it 
rests  upon  that  noble  structure,  the  Brooklyn  Bridge,  an  example  to  the  immi- 
grant of  the  material  progress  of  the  country  with  which  he  intends  to  cast 
his  lot.  Not  far  from  Bedloe's  or  Liberty  Island,  is  Governor's  Island  with  its 
fortifications,  impressing  the  immigrant  with  the  fact  that  though  this  is  a  land 
of  liberty  it  is  also  a  land  of  law  and  order. 

The  statue  is  the  work  of  the  French  sculptor,  Auguste  liartholdi,  and  is 
the  gift  of  the  French  Republic  to  the  United  States.  Richard  M.  Hunt  was 
the  architect  of  the  pedestal,  the  cost  of  which  was  defrayed  by  popular  sub- 
scription. In  planning  the  pedestal,  the  architect  contrived  to  have  its  effectiveness 
enhanced  by  the  double  star-shaped  fortification,  Fort  Wood,  within  which  it  stands. 
The  depth  of  the  concrete  foundation  upon  which  the  pedestal  rests,  is  almost  sixty- 
six  feet,  the  pedestal  itself  being  eighty-nine  feet  in  height,  so  that  the  statue 
plants  its  feet  upon  a  height  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  feet.  The  statue 
itself  is  in  round  numbers  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  feet  high,  so  that  the  whole 
creation,  from  the  base  of  the  foundation  to  the  torch,  is  three  hundred  and  six 
feet.  The  weight  of  the  statue  is  given  in  "  Kobbe's  New  York  and  its  Envi- 
rons," as  450,000  pounds,  and  it  is  there  stated,  that  while  the  statue  cost  $200,000, 
the  pedestal,  which  was  not  the  gift  of  France,  cost  considerably  more,  viz.  : 
$300,000.  To  reach  the  highest  point,  the  torch,  it  is  necessary  to  ascend  three 
hundred  and  ninety-three  steps.  This  arduous  ascent  is  rewarded  by  magnificent 
views  in   all  directions. 

This  bronze  lady's  hands  are  over  sixteen  feet  long,  her  finger  nails 
measuring  13x10  inches;  her  nose  is  four  feet  and  a  half  in  length;  and  her 
waist  measures  thirty-five  feet. 

The  electric  lights  in  the  torch  are  visible  some  twenty-four  miles  out  at 
sea,   and  the  pedestal   is  also  illuminated  at  night. 


LIBERTY  ENLIGHTENING  THE  WORLD 


WASHINGTON  BUILDING  — i  Broadway. 


I 


THE  COLUMBIA  BUILDING. 


r  J^" H E  Columbia  Building,  29  Broadway,  on  the  north  corner  of  Morris  street, 
is  effectively  situated,  and  with  its  height  and  its  ornamental  architecture 
is  one  of  the  most  striking  edifices  in  the  city.  It  overlooks  historic  ground  ; 
for  at  the  foot  of  Bowling  Green  stood  the  little  fort  of  logs  which  the  Dutch 
erected  in  16 15.  Bowling  Green  was  a  drill  ground,  from  which  ran  a  country 
road — now  Broadway.  The  railing  around  the  little  park  is  the  very  one  from 
which  the  crowns  were  hacked  off  the  night  of  July  9,  1776,  when  the  leaden 
equestrian  statue  of  George  III.  which  the  railing  enclosed  was  pulled  down 
and  hacked  to  pieces  by  the  mob. 

The  Columbia  Building  is  the  property  of  Spencer  Aldrich.  Needless  to 
say  it  is  fire-proof,  and  the  most  approved  methods  of  construction  were  adopted 
in  its  erection.  Having  a  frontage  on  three  streets — Broadway,  Morris  and 
Greenwich — every  office  has  direct  light  and  ventilation,  and  from  nine  of  the 
twelve  stories  a  superb  view  of  the  harbor  is  had.  Four  elevators,  capable  of 
a  speed  of  five  hundred  feet  per  minute,  constitute  a  rapid  transit  from  the 
basement  to  the  top  floor.  Marble  and  tiling  are  abundantly  used  in  the  cor- 
ridors and  toilet  rooms.  The  building  is  electrically  lighted  and  steam  heated, 
with  open  fire  places  in  the  larger  offices.  A  U.  S.  Mail  chute,  a  public 
telephone,  a  newstand  and  other  such  conveniences  as  are  now  considered  in- 
separable from  a  first-class  office  structure  are  found  in  the  Columbia  Building. 


COLUMBIA  BUILDING— 29  Broadway. 


ALDRICH  COURT. 


y^LDRIC  H  COURT,  41-45  Broadway,  was  erected  for  the  estate  of  Herman 
D.  Aldrich,  and  is  managed  by  Mr.  Spencer  Aldrich,  the  owner  of  the 
Columbia  Building.  While  this  latter  overlooks  historic  ground,  Aldrich  Court 
stands  upon  historic  ground.  A  tablet  in  the  basement  recites  that  here  were 
located  the  first  habitations  of  white  men  on  Manhattan  Island.  In  1613, 
Captain  Adrian  Block,  after  whom  Block  Island  is  named,  landed  on  the  island, 
and  his  vessel,  the  Tiger,  having  been  destroyed  by  fire,  built  huts  on  this 
site. 

Aldrich  Court  is  of  brick  and  stone.  A  noticeable  architectural  feature 
is  the  deep,  arched  entrance,  a  vignette  of  which  is  shown  in  the  illustration. 
This  building  has  a  frontage  on  two  streets,  and  an  interior  court  50x75  feet, 
so  that  light  and  ventilation  are  all  that  could  be  desired  ;  and  it  has  been 
furnished  with  all  the  appliances  of  a  first-class  office  building — rapid  elevators, 
mail  chute,  electric  light,  steam  heat  and  open  fire-places  in  the  larger  offices. 
The  Aldrich  Court  and  Columbia  Building  dynamos  supply  by  underground 
connections  the  electric  lights  mutually  for  each  building.  In  both  buildings 
heat,  light  and  janitor's  services  are  free. 


ALDRICH  COURT— 45  Broadway. 


NEW  YORK  COTTON  EXCHANGE— William  and  Beaver  Streets. 


Charles  W.  Clinton,  Architect. 

FARMERS'  LOAN  &  TRUST  COMPANY— 16  William  Street. 


CONSOLIDATED  STOCK  &  PETROLEUM  EXCHANGE. 


Union  Trust  Company  of  New  York. 


No.  80  Broadway. 
Capital,  $ i,ooo,coo.    -    -    -    Surplus,  $3,800,000 


Officers. 
Edward  King,  President. 
Cornelius  D.  Wood,  Vice  Pres.  James  H.  Ogilvie,  Vice  Pres. 

Aug.  W.  Kelley,  Secretary.  J.  V.  B.  Thayer,  Ass't  Sec'y. 


Executive  Committee. 
Wm.  Whitewright,  Edward  Schell,  George  C.  Magoun, 

D.  C.  Hays,  G.  G.  Williams,  E.  B.  Wesley, 

Jas.  T.  Woodward,  C.  D.  Wood. 


Wm.  Whitewright, 
Edward  King, 
E.  B.  Wesley. 
Geo.  C.  Magoun, 
Edward  Schell, 
Henry  A.  Kent, 
Win.  Alex.  Duer, 
C.  Vanderbilt, 
C.  D.  Wood, 


Trustees. 

Chauncey  M.  Depew,  George  A.  Jarvis, 

James  N.  Piatt,  Jas.  T.  Woodwaid, 

Charles  H.  Leland,  G.  G.  Williams, 
H.  Van  Rens'elaer  Kennedy,  R.  T.  Wilson, 

James  H.  Ogilvie,  William  F.  Russell, 

A.  A.  Low,  D.  C.  Hays, 

R.  G.  Remsen,  Amasa  J.  Parker, 

Geo.  B.  Carhait,  Sam"l  F.  Barger, 

D.  H.  McAlpin,  W.  Emlen  Roosevelt. 


A  UTHORIZED  to  act  as  executor,  administrator,  guardian,  re- 
^    »      ceiver  or  trustee,  and  is  a  legal  depository  for  money.  Acts 
as  trustees  of  mortgages  of  corporations,  and  accepts  the 
transfer  agency  and  registry  of  stocks. 
Allows  interest  on  deposits,  which  may  be  made  at  any  time  and  withdrawn  on  five  days'  notice, 
with  interest  for  the  whole  time  they  remain  with  the  Company. 

For  the  convenience  of  depositors  this  Company  also  opens  current  accounts,  subject,  in  accordance 
with  its  rules,  to  check  at  sight,  and  allows  interest  upon  the  resulting  daily  balances.  Such  checks  pass 
through  the  Clearing-House. 

Attends  specially  to  the  management  of  real  estate  and  to  the  collection  and  remittance  of  rents. 
In  its  new  burglar  and  fire-proof  vaults  it  makes  ample  provision  for  the  safe  keeping  of  securities 
placed  in  its  custody,  on  which  it  collects  and  remits  income. 

The  elegant  and  substantial  fire-proof  structure  of  the  Union  Trust  Company  may  be  described  as  a 
fine  example  of  the  Romansque  style  of  architecture,  at  present  so  popular  in  New  York  and  throughout 
the  country.  It  has  a  frontage  on  Broadway  of  72  feet  3^  inches,  and  on  New  street  of  77  feet,  and 
ample  interior  court.  Every  office  secures  direct  light  and  ventilation.  The  average  depth  is  106  feet  6 
inches.  There  are  eleven  full  stories  on  Broadway,  and  twelve  on  New  street.  The  height  of  the  build- 
ing above  curb  is,  on  Broadway,  196  feet,  and  on  New  street,  206  feet.  The  Broadway  front  is  built  of 
Hallowel,  Maine,  granite,  richly  ornamented  in  parts,  while  that  on  New  street  is  of  buff  brick  and  terra 
cotta.  The  roofs  are  paved  with  brick  on  the  flat  portions,  and  the  slopes  are  covered  with  corrugated 
tiles.  From  the  skylight  on  the  banking-room  ceiling  an  open  court  20x50  feet  extends  upward  through 
the  building,  opening  to  the  South  above  the  adjoining  roofs,  thus  affording  abundant  sunlight  and 
ventilation,  there  being  no  dark  offices,  as  direct  light  is  provided  in  every  case.  The  floor-construction 
is  composed  of  steel  beams,  while  the  supporting  columns  are  of  wrought  iron,  all  incased  with  burnt 
clay  coverings,  rendering  them  absolutely  fire  proof.  The  staircases  are  of  ornamental  wrought  and  cast 
iron,  with  marble  slate  treads.  The  three  standard  hydraulic  elevators,  capable  of  a  speed  of  three 
hundred  feet  per  minute,  are  supplied  with  the  most  improved  safety  appliances,  and  the  passenger  cars 
are  constructed  of  ornamental  wrought  iron.  There  is  a  special  car  for  lifting  safes  to  the  upper  stories. 
Halls  and  toilet  rooms  have  tile  floors  ;  the  latter  rooms  also  have  wainscoting  of  same  material,  while  the 
entrance  halls  are  richly  wainscoted  with  foreign  marbles.  The  plumbing  is  complete  and  elaborate,  em- 
bracing the  latest  sanitary  improvements,  and  is  perfect  in  every  detail.  The  ventilation  of  toilet  rooms 
is  a  special  feature.  The  building  throughout  is  heated  by  steam,  and  in  addition  to  gas,  is  furnished 
with  electric  light  supplied  from  special  plant  in  cellar.  Mail  chutes  are  provided  with  letter  drops  on 
every  floor.  The  building  is  most  favorably  located,  being  directly  opposite  the  New  York  Stock  Ex- 
change, adjacent  to  the  Consolidated  Stock  and  Petroleum  Ex  change,  and  within  a  step  of  Wall  street. 


UNION  TRUST  COMPANY  OF  NEW  YORK. — 80  Broadway. 


TRINITY  CHURCH. 


'^J^RINITY  CHURCH  looks  serenely  clown  upon  the  junction  of  two  busy 
thoroughfares,  Broadway  and  Wall  street,  and  forms  with  the  peaceful 
burying  ground,  in  which  it  stands,  an  oasis  of  rest  amid  the  turmoil  of  the 
financial  centre  of  the  United  States.  At  intervals  this  old  religious  sentinel 
is  heard  above  the  uproar  of  the  street,  announcing  the  hour,  and  his  silvery 
tongue  ushers   in   the  new  year. 

Trinity  parish  includes  besides  "old  Trinity"  six  churches,  the  most  nota- 
ble being  old  St.  Paul's,  between  Fulton  and  Vesey  streets.  It  was  the  pioneer 
parish  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the  United  States,  its  charter  dating  back 
to  1697.  The  present  building,  erected  in  1846,  is  the  third  that  has  occupied 
this  site,  the  first  having  been  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  days  after  the  British 
occupation   of  the  city  during  the  Revolution. 

It  is  a  Gothic  structure,  and  its  beauty  has  not  suffered  by  comparison 
with  the  lofty  office  buildings  that  rear  their  heads  on  Broadway  and  down 
Wall  street.  Many  a  toiler  accepts  its  gracious  invitation  to  enter  for  a  few 
moments  of  meditation,  and  so  great  is  the  contrast  between  the  turmoil  of 
the  street  and  Trinity's  reposeful  interior,  that  one  seems  indeed  far  from  the 
madding  crowd,  though  in   a  minute  one  can   be  in  the  whirl  again. 

The  burying  ground,  too,  has  a  gentle  interest  of  its  own,  for  the  foliage 
of  trees  and  shrubs  partially  shuts  out  the  street  from  view,  and  even  the 
noise  of  business  seems  loathe  to  intrude  upon  the  thoughts  awakened  by 
this  spot  of  many  memories.  Among  the  graves  here  are  those  of  Captain 
James  Larwence,  U.  S.  N.,  whose  last  words,  "Don't  give  up  the  ship,"  have 
given  him  lasting  fame  ;  Alexander  Hamilton,  and  William  Bradford,  the  printer 
of  the  first  newspaper  in  New  York.  Opposite  the  head  of  Pine  street  is 
a  memorial  to  the  Revolutionary  martyrs  who  died  "while  imprisoned  in  this 
city  for  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  American  Independence." 


WALL  STREET. 


^^fALL  STREET  is  one  of  the  historic  thoroughfares  of  the  city.  As  long 
ago  as  1656  a  building  was  erected  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
Custom  House.  In  1644  a  fence,  part  of  the  city's  line  of  fortifications,  was 
run  along  Wall  street,  and  where  Trinity  Church  now  stands  was  a  gate, 
the  "Land  Gate,"  as  it  was  called.  Just  south  of  the  street  was  a  sheep 
pasture,  which  at  once  suggests  the  "lambs"  of  the  present  day,  who  are  so 
often  sheared  in  Wall  street  stock  speculations.  The  street  is  now  becoming  more 
and  more  of  a  narrow  lane  running  between  huge  buildings.  The  most  important 
are  shown  in  the  succeeding  pages. 

There  are  a  number  of  interesting  United  States  buildings  on  Wall  street.  At 
the  corner  of  Nassau  stands  the  United  States  Sub  Treasury,  conspicuous  for  its 
classic  style,  and  occupying  the  site  of  old  Federal  Hall,  where  Washington  took 
the  oath  of  office  as  first  President  of  the  United  States.  Adjoining  it  is  the  United 
States  Assay  office.  On  the  south  side  of  Wall  street,  occupying  the  block  between 
William  and  Hanover  streets,  is  the  United  States  Custom  House,  which  collects 
some  hundred  and  sixty  million  dollars  a  year  at  an  expense  of  only  about  three 
million  dollars,  showing  a  pretty  good  balance  on  the  right  side. 

Better  known  perhaps  than  any  other  building  on  the  street  is  the  New  York 
Stock  Exchange.  This  has  but  a  small  frontage  on  Wall  street,  its  main  facade  being 
on  Broad  street.  In  the  "  Board  Room,"  which  is  260x98  feet,  business  is  trans- 
acted from  10  a.  m.  to  3  p.  m.,  with  an  accompaniment  of  noise  that  can  be  likened 
only  to  pandemonium.  What  a  contrast  between  the  turmoil  of  Wall  street  and 
the  tranquil  grace  of  old  Trinity,  which  looks  down  upon  the  busy  scene. 


A  BEND  IN  THE  "L"  ROAD. 


Capital,  $1,000,000. 


Chartered, 


1829. 


Surplus,  $1,500,000. 


GALLATIN   NATIONAL  BANK 


OF  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


Officers. 


Fred'k  D.  Tappen,  President. 


Alex.   H.  Stevens,  Vice-President. 


Arthur  W.  Sherman,  Cashier. 


Directors. 


Fred'k  D.  Tappen 
Thomas  Denny, 


Wm.  W.  Astor, 
Fred'k  W.  Stevens. 


Adrian  Iselin,  Jr., 
Alex   H.  Stevens, 


Henry  I.  Barbey, 


W.  Emlin  Roosevelt. 


HE  Gallatin  Bank,  Nos.  34  and  36  Wall  street,  was  built  by  the  Gallatin  Bank  and  Adrian  Iselin 


&  Sons,  as  a  banking  and  office  building,  J.  C.  Cady  &  Co.,  Architects.  The  exterior  is  of  a  Scotch 
sand  stone,  of  a  soft  reddish  tone.  The  style  is  Romanesque,  carefully  modeled  in  detail,  but  without 
exaggeration  of  features,  a  recognition  of  the  fact  that  it  was  a  part  of  the  architecture  of  a  crowded 
street,  and  the  building  of  a  corporation  and  of  capitalists  so  substantial  and  so  long  established  that 
nothing  loud  in  expression  was  needed  to  advertise  them. 

Some  features  of  the  building  were  novel.  One  of  these  was  the  manner  of  forming  the  founda- 
tion, the  ground  being  found  insufficient  without  piling  or  especial  precautions.  As  in  this  case  piling 
would  have  been  likely  to  have  disturbed  the  adjacent  buildings,  the  Architects  took  the  novel  course 
of  forming  a  great  platform  of  artificial  stone  over  the  whole  cellar  bottom,  and  building  the  structure 
walls,  piers  and  petitions  upon  that.  This  expedited  the  matter  of  building,  saved  annoyance,  and 
possibly  litigation,  and  has  proved  in  every  way  satisfactory.  Another  novel  feature  was  the  extensive 
use  of  plate  gla^s  partitions,  themselves  held  in  place  by  wrought  iron  work,  thus  occupying  the  least 
possible  space.  Although  the  building  is  an  interior  building,  the  light  has  been  so  conserved  that  it  is 
one  of  the  most  lightsome  office  buildings  in  New  York 

Another  feature  which  has  never  been  attempted  before  in  an  office  building,  was  the  ventilation 
of  every  one  of  the  offices  by  forcing  into  them  air,  which  can  be  either  cold,  tepid  or  warm,  at  the  con- 
trol of  the  engineer,  or  the  option  of  the  tenant,  and  also  having  their  foul  air  drawn  out  by  the  ventila- 
ting machinery.    The  building  is  fire-proof  throughout. 


United  States  Trust  Company  of  New  York. 


No.  45  and  47  Wall  Street. 


Capital  and  Surplus,  Nine  Million  Dollars. 


Officcers. 


John  A.  Stewart,  President. 


George  Bliss,  Vice-President. 


James  S.  Clark,  Second  Vice  President. 


Henry  L.  Thornell,  Secretary. 


Louis  G.  Hampton,  Ass't  Secretary. 


Trustees. 


Wilson  G.  Hunt, 

Daniel  D.  Lord, 

Samuel  Sloan, 

James  Low, 

Wm.  Walter  Phelps 

D.  Willis  James, 

John  A.  Stewart, 

Erastus  Corning,  Albany, 


John  Harson  Rhoades, 
Anson  Phelps  Stokes, 
Geo.  Henry  Warren, 
George  Bliss, 
William  Libbey, 
John  Crosby  Brown, 
Edward  Cooper, 
W.  Bayard  Cutting, 
Charles  S.  Smith. 


Wm.  Rockefeller, 
Alexander  E.  Orr, 


Frank  Lyman,  Bk'lyn. 
George  F.  Vietor, 
William  Waldorf  Astor, 


William  H.  Macy,  Jr. 


William  D.  Sloan, 
Gustav  H.  Schwab, 


HIS  Company  is  a  legal  depository  for  moneys  paid  into  court,  and  is  authorized  to  act  as  guardian  or 


I  trustee.  Interest  allowed  on  deposits,  which  may  be  made  at  any  time  and  withdrawn  after  five 
days'  notice,  and  will  be  entitled  to  interest  for  the  whole  time  they  may  remain  with  the  Company- 
Executors,  administrators,  or  trustees  of  estates,  and  women  unaccustomed  to  the  transaction  of  business, 
as  well  as  religious  and  benevolent  institutions,  will  find  this  Company  a  convenient  depository  for 
money. 

The  building  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  Wall  street,  between  Broad  and  William  streets.  The 
front  toward  Wall  street  is  built  of  Worcester,  (Mass.)  granite,  which  is  of  a  light  buff  color,  with  certain 
arches  and  other  features  in  Kibbe  stone.    The  style  is  Romanesque. 

It  is  a  massive  building,  strictly  of  the  first-class,  fireproof  in  construction,  and  perfect  in  finish.  The 
floors  have  terra  eotta  arches  upon  steel  beams.  The  girders  are  steel  and  the  columns  iron,  all  pro- 
tected with  terra  cotta  fire-proofing.  The  woodwork  is  quartered  oak.  The  halls  and  stairs  are  of 
marble,  with  mosaic  pavements.  The  light  is  excellent,  both  front  and  rear,  and  the  windows  are  the  full 
height  to  the  ceilings. 

The  sanitary  appliances  are  the  most  recent  and  approved.    The  building  is  heated  by  steam,  ventil- 
lated  by  fans  and  air  ducts,  and  lighted  by  electricity. 
Open  fireplaces  are  provided  throughout. 

There  are  nine  stories — the  first  being  nearly  on  the  street  level,  for  the  occupation  of  the  United 
States  Trust  Company. 

The  noble  entrance  and  unusually  wide  halls  and  stairs,  and  improved  elevators,  afford  ready  access 
to  the  eight  upper  floors,  available  for  offices. 

The  lofty  main  floor  is  entered  by  a  round  arched  doorway,  recessed  in  three  orders,  with  richly 
carved  capitals  and  arch  stones.  All  this  is  in  very  massive  granite.  The  second  story,  which  is  of 
ordinary  height,  is  treated  as  a  horizontal  tier  of  massively  clustered  columns,  with  richly  carved  caps. 
The  windows  are  very  deeply  recessed,  the  one  column  standing  behind  the  other  in  relief.  Above  this 
the  next  three  stories  are  grouped  together  in  a  large  arcade,  which  is  the  principal  feature  of  the  design. 

The  sixth  story  is  in  plain  granite  ashler,  which  serves  to  support  the  upper  group,  which  consists  of 
a  two-story  arcade  of  six  arches  supporting  a  frieze  and  carved  cornice,  the  ninth  story  windows  opening 
into  the  frieze.  All  the  capitals  and  hood  moulds  of  arches  and  other  features  have  been  carved  with 
unusually  effective  treatment.  Models  were  made  and  put  in  position  for  experiment  before  the  work 
was  commenced. 

The  character  of  the  building  is  unusually  massive,  an  effect  which  was  obtained  to  typify  its  purpose 
by  making  the  reveals  unusually  deep,  avoiding  pilasters  of  flat-fronted  effects.  All  the  columns,  piers, 
etc.,  have  a  side  as  well  as  a  front. 

The  solidity  is  real  as  well  as  apparent,  the  wall  front  being  of  solid  stone  the  greater  part  of  the 
height. 


UNITED  STATES  TRUST  COMPANY  OF  NEW  YORK  — 45  Wall  Street. 


CHARTERED  1799. 

BANK  OF  THE  MANHATTAN  COMPANY, 

40  WALL  STEEET,  NEW  YORK. 


D.  C.  Hays,  President. 
Stephen  Baker,  Vice-President. 


Officers. 


Directors. 


George  W.  Smith,  G.  W.  Smith  &  Co., 

John  W.  Harper,  Harper  &  Brothers. 

James  Talcott,  Merchant. 

M.  C.  D.  Borden,  Merchant. 

Edgar  S.  Auchincloss,  Auchincloss  Brothers. 


Stephen  Baker,  Vice-President. 


J.  T.  Baldwin,  Cashier. 

W.  E.  Trotter,  Assistant  Cashier. 


John  S.  Kennedy,  Capitalist. 
Henry  K.  McHarg,  Banker. 
John  Sloane,  W.  &  J.  Sloane. 
O.  B.  Jennings,  Trustee  Standard  Oil. 
D.  C.  Hays,  President. 


Quarterly  Statement. 


December  nth,  i8gi . 
Resources.  Liabilities. 

Loans  and  Discounts,       .       .      $10,408,524  49  Capital  Stock,       ....  $2,050,000  00 

Real  Estate,          .       .       .               900,000  00  Surplus,            ....  1,580,288  82 

Due    from    State     and    National  Individual  Deposits,      .       .       .  6,998,266  64 

Banks,        ....  727,934  89  Due  Trust  Companies,    State  and 

Cash,            ....             3,723,267  64           National  Banks,         .       .  5,131,171  56 


>>5, 759.727  02  $i5-759.727  02 


The  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  New  York.  llr^Tjv^mt3' 

Officers. 

R.  M.  Gallaway,  President.  C.  V.  Banta,  Cashier.  Jas.  G.  Baldwin,  Asst.  Cashier. 

Directors. 

Jacob  Wendell,  Henry  Sheldon,  G.  H.  Schwab, 

John  A.  Stewart,  Elbert  A.  Brinkerhoff,  Donald  Mackay, 

Chas.  S.  Smith,  W.  G.  Vermilye,  R.  M.  Gallaway, 

Chas.  D.  Dickey,  Jr. 

Report  of  the  condition  of  the  Merchants'  National  Bank,  at  New  York,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  at  the  close  of  business  on  the  2d  day  of  December,  1891  : 

Resources.  Liabilities. 

Loans  and  Discounts,        ....  $6,628,173  71      Capital  Stock  paid  in,       ....  $2,000,00000 

Overdrafts,      ......  19  76     Surplus  Fund,       .....            400,000  00 

United  States  Bonds  to  Secure  Circulation  Undivided  Profits,  640,921  14 

(par  value),  two  per  cents,          .       .  50,000  00     State  Bank  Circulation  Outstanding,    .               2,632  00 

Stocks,  Securities,  etc.,        .       .       .  9,000  00     Dividends  unpaid   4,749  50 

Due  from  other  National  Banks,      .       .  504,652  52     Individual  Deposits,  subject 

Due  from  State  and  Private  Banks  and  to  Check,         .       .        $5,202,550  61 

Bankers.    86,768  77      Demand  Certificates  of  De- 
Banking  House,      .       .       $845,000  00  posit,           .       .       .             844  00 
Furniture  and  Fixtures.        .     22,535  33—    867,535  33     Certified  Checks,  .       .     803,674  88 
Current  Expenses  and  Taxes  Paid,       .  6r,i49  35     Cashier's  Checks  Outstaud- 

Premium  on  Bonds  for  Circulation,         .  1.50000           ing,      ....         89,036  25—6,096,105  74 

Checks  and  other  Cash  items,      .       .  1 75, 675  95     Due  to  other  National  Banks,          .       .  2,372,51828 

Exchanges  for  Clearing  House,       .       .  3,26^.595  84     Due   to  Slate   and   Private   Banks  and 

Bills  of  other  Banks,  .       .       .  26,737  °o  Bankers,  2,405,613  05 

Fractional  Paper  Currency,  Nickels  and 

Cents,   1,082  12 

Specie,  viz : 
Gold  Coin,  .       .       .   $  239,060  35 

Gold  Treasury  Certificates,  1,490,000  00 
Silver  Dollars,         .       .  1,000  00 

Silver  Treasury  Certificates.        65.729  00 
Fractional  Silver  Coin,       .  7,875  01—1,803,664  36 

Legal  Tender  Notes,       .       .       .  442,985  00 

Total,       ...  .       .      $13,922,539  71  Total  $13,922,539  71 


W.  Wheeler  Smith,  Architect. 
MANHATTAN  COMPANY  AND  MERCHANTS'  NATIONAL  BANK— 42  Wall  Street. 


THE  BANK  OF  AMERICA. 


Capital,  $3,000,000. 


Nos.  44  and  46  Wall  Street. 
Surplus,  $1,500,000. 


Undivided  Profits,  $600,000. 


Officers. 


Wm.  H.  Perkins,  President 


F.  P.  Olcott,  Vice-President. 


Dallas  B.  Pratt,  Cashier 


Directors. 


Samuel  Thorne, 


J.  Harsen  Rhoades, 
Augustus  D.  Juilliard, 
Oliver  Harriman, 
Frederic  P.  Olcott, 


George  G.  Haven, 
William  H.  Perkins 
James  N.  Jarvie. 


Charles  G.  Landon, 
George  A.  Crocker, 
David  S.  Egleston, 


HIS  Bank  was  chartered  in  1812,  and  has  done  business  on  the  corner  of  Wall  and  William  streets 


1  ever  since  that  time.  The  original  building  was  a  dwelling-house  (the  old  VVinthrop  mansion),  and  in 
i835-'36  the  solid  one-story  granite  bank  building  in  Grecian  style,  so  well  known  to  all  frequenters  of 
Wall  street,  was  erected.  This  stood  until  the  autumn  of  1888,  when  it  was  torn  down  to  make  way  for 
the  present  fine  nine-story  building,  which  the  Bank  took  possession  of  May  1st,  1889. 

The  building  is  of  Indiana  buff  limestone,  from  the  top  of  the  first  story  to  the  cornice  inclusive,  the 
basement  and  first  stories  being  of  granite. 

The  treatment  may  be  said  to  be  heroic — large  openings,  flanked  by  great  and  solid  piers  united  at 
their  tops  with  semi-circular  arches,  the  stories  throughout  alternating  with  smooth  and  rough  or  "rock"  faced 
surfaces;  great  depth  of  jambs  and  "reveals"  producing  a  very  massive  effect  :  and  great  simplicity  of 
details,  the  mouldings  being  large  and  of  simple  forms,  all  in  harmony  with  the  general  treatment. 

The  main  cornice  has  only  two  rows  of  ornaments,  one  a  simple  leaf  moulding,  the  other  consisting  of 
an  effective  dental  course. 

While  the  openings  are  square-headed  on  the  first  story,  the  doorway  is  arched,  the  arch  springing 
from  the  capitals  of  the  piers. 

The  style  is  a  modification  of  Italian  Rennaisance.  The  granite  piers  forming  the  base  of  the  com- 
position rest  on  simple  plinths,  and  their  capitals  are  plainly  moulded,  the  egg  and  dart  ornamenting  the 
moulding  directly  under  the  abacus. 

An  exceedingly  plain  lintel  course  rests  on  these  capitals,  without  any  architrave  moulding,  and  with 
only  a  fiat  though  bold  course,  with  a  core  moulding  underneath  in  place  of  a  cornice  moulding.  This 
course  runs  with  unbroken  lines  through  both  fronts.  Another  and  similar  lintel  or  belt  course  somewhat 
smaller,  at  the  top  of  the  third-story  openings,  divides  the  building  horizontally  at  that  level,  the  great 
piers  from  which  spring  the  arches,  touching  the  architrave  course  of  the  main  cornice  springing  from  it. 

The  capitals  of  these  piers  are  devoid  of  ornament,  except  the  egg  and  dart  moulding  similar  to  those 
of  the  first  story  described  above. 

The  whole  effect  of  the  composition  is  reposeful  and  dignified. 

The  interior  is  fitted  up  with  elegance,  the  woodwork  being  mostly  oak  ;  the  halls  tiled  and  wains- 
coted with  white  marble. 

The  Offices  of  the  Bank  of  America  occupy  the  first  story,  and  are  reached  by  the  elevators  and  an 
exceedingly  easy  and  handsome  marble  stairway — so  easy  that  many  use  it  in  place  of  the  elevators. 

The  Banking  room  is  decorated  with  simplicity  and  good  taste,  in  ivory  and  gold,  and  the  counters, 
desks  and  furniture  are  in  keeping  with  the  character  of  this  great  banking  institution. 


The  Central  Trust  Company  of  New  York. 


Officers. 

Frederic  P.  Olcott,  President.         George  Sherman,  Vice-President.         E.  F.  Hyde,  2d  Vice-President. 
C.  H.  P.  Babcock,  Secretary.  B.  G.  Mitchell,  Ass't  Secretary. 

Executive  Committee. 
Frederic  P.  Olcott, 

Chas.  G.  Landon,  Charles  Lanier,  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  Adrian  Iselin,  Jr. 

Samuel  D.  Babcock,  Jno.  S.  Kennedy,  A.  D.  Julliard,  Samuel  Thorne. 


Chas.  Lanier, 
Chas.  G.  Landon, 
Wm.  H.  Webb, 
Frederic  P.  Olcott, 
Henry  Talmadge, 
George  Sherman, 


A.  D.  Julliard, 
A.  A.  Low, 
Wm.  Allen  Butler, 
Percy  R.  Pyne, 
Wm.  H.  Appleton, 
Josiah  M.  Fiske, 


Board  of  Trustees. 

Geo.  Macculloch  Miller, 
Cornelius  N.  Bliss, 
Oliver  Harriman, 
Sam'l  D.  Babcock, 
James  P.  Wallace, 
B.  G.  Mitchell, 


Henry  F.  Spaulding, 
John  S.  Kennedy, 
Samuel  Thorne, 
Adrian  Iselin,  Jr. 
E.  F.  Hyde, 
Oliver  H.  Payne. 


THE  Central  Trust  Company  of  New  York  commenced 
business  in  November,  1875,  at  14  Nassau  street.  A 
few  years  later,  it  moved  to  the  large  banking  room  in  the 
New  York  Clearing  House  building  on  the  opposite  corner, 
now  occupied  by  the  Chase  National  Bank.  It  remained 
there  but  a  short  time,  as  its  business  increased  so  rapidly 
it  was  found  necessary  to  seek  larger  quarters,  and  in  1886 
it  purchased  property  at  54  Wall  street,  and  erected  thereon 
the  nine-story  building  here  represented,  which  is  one  of 
the  notable  structures  on  Wall  street. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  Company  is  $1,000,000,  and 
during  the  seventeen  years  of  its  existence  it  has  accumu- 
lated a  surplus  of  $5,133,000,  although  in  the  meantime  it 
has  paid  to  its  stockholders  $2,550,000  in  dividends. 

It  allows  interest  on  deposits ;  is  a  legal  depository 
for  money  paid  into  court ;  is  authorized  to  act  as  executor, 
administrator,  guardian,  or  in  any  other  position  of  trust ; 
also  as  registrar  or  transfer  agent  of  stocks  and  bonds,  and 
as  trustee  for  railroad  or  other  mortgages. 

The  building  boasts  many  admirable  and  practical 
features.  The  two  lower  stories  are  built  of  pink  granite, 
and  from  thence  to  the  top  red  brick  with  red  terra  cotta 
trimmings  are  used.  The  style  is  Italian  rennaisance,  the 
treatment  academical,  simple,  and  even  severe  ;  expressing 
utility  rather  than  luxury,  although  the  care  with  which  the 
proportions,  various  features  and  details  are  wrought,  com- 
bined with  the  excellence  of  the  various  materials,  and  the 
solidity  of  the  same,  forbids  any  impression  of  economy,  let 
alone  cheapness  of  construction. 

All  the  openings  are  square-headed,  except  that  the 
doorway  is  accentuated  with  a  circular  head,  and  an  "arcaded  " 
row  of  windows  lights  the  upper  story  through  the  parapet 
above  the  main  cornice.  Above  the  pink  granite  base,  which 
comprises  the  two  lower  stories,  there  is  a  story,  the  piers 
of  which  are  of  brick,  alternating  with  granite  binders — a 
gradation  between  the  lower  stories  and  those  above  it, 
which  are  entirely  of  brick,  with  terra  cotta  details  or 
trimmings.  On  this  portion  of  the  facade  the  "pilaster 
treatment"  is  used,  the  pilasters  running  the  height  of  four 
stories,  up  to  the  architrave  course.  Above  this  course  in 
the  frieze  there  is  a  row  of  windows  lighting  the  eighth  story, 
and  above  the  cornice  the  parapet  is  used  as  the  face  of  the 
upper  story,  as  above  mentioned.  This  mode  of  treatment 
is  very  successful  for  buildings  having  a  great  number  of 
stories,  and  has  been  adopted  by  Mr.  Charles  VV.  Clinton, 
the  architect,  with  great  success  in  several  instances. 


Charles  W.  Clinton,  Architect. 

CENTRAL  TRUST  COMPANY— 54  Wall  Street. 


THE  STOKES  BUILDING. 


HIS  Building,  situated 
on  the  north  side  of 
Cedar  street,  between  Nas- 
sau and  William  streets, 
is  owned  by  Mrs.  Anson 
Phelps  Stokes.  It  has  a 
frontage  of  seventy-five  feet 
on  the  street,  and  is  ten 
stories  in  height.  The  ma- 
terial is  Indiana  limestone 
for  the  ground  and  first 
stories,  and  from  thence 
to  the  top  of  the  cornice 
Pompeian  brick  with  terra 
cotta  trimmings. 


ARCHITECTURAL  DETAIL. 


It  is  a  wonderfully 
substantial  and  sensible 
building  ;    is    of  excellent 

proportions,  relieved  with  sufficient  enrichment  for  a  building  erected  for  commer- 
cial uses,  and  is  a  standing  rebuke  to  many  of  the  more  ostentatious  and  "palatial  " 
piles  too  often  seen,  which  are  out  of  character  with  their  purposes. 

The  openings  between  the  piers  of  the  two  lower  stories  are  spanned  with 
arches  of  great  simplicity  of  detail.  The  entrance  is  through  a  portico  with  Ionic 
columns.  Above  the  stone  archway  of  the  first  story  there  is  a  story,  the  wall  of 
which  is  pierced  with  couplet  windows,  arched  with  broad  archivolts,  and  above  this 
story  spring  the  long  piers,  the  openings  between  which  are  spanned  with  arches, 
reaching  the  architrave  moulding  of  the  (Treat  cornice. 

There  is  an  arcade  between  this  architrave  mould  to  the  cornice,  in  the  space 
answering  to  the  frieze,  and  this  arcade  is  an  exceedingly  effective  feature,  being 
accentuated  with  well  modeled  enrichment  in  terra  cotta.  The  cornice  has  the 
modilion,  dental  and  egg  and  dart  courses  of  the  classic. 

Above  this  cornice  is  the  parapet,  which  is  pierced  with  windows  lighting  the 
tenth  upper  story. 

The  interior  of  the  building  is  admirably  planned  for  light  and  ventilation. 
The  entrance  hall  is  lined  with  white  Italian  marble  from  floor  to  ceiling,  all  the 
halls  being  tiled  with  the  same  material. 

The  building  is  furnished  with  all  the  latest  improvements  in  the  way  of 
modern  appliances.  Three  of  the  best  swift-running  Otis  elevators,  the  most 
approved  sanitary  plumbing  and  heating,  and  dynamos  of  ample  power  for  the 
electric  lighting,  make  the  offices  very  desirable. 


Charles  W.  Clinton,  Architect. 


STOKES  BUILDING.— 45-49  Cedar  Street. 


THE  MUTUAL  LIFE  INSU  RANCE  COMPANY 

OF  NEW  YORK. 


Officei  s. 


Richard  A.  McCurdy, 
Robert  A.  Granniss, 
Walter  R.  Gillette, 
Isaac  F.  Lloyd, 
William  J.  Easton, 
Frederick  Schroeder, 
Archibald  N.  Waterhouse, 
Emory  McClintock,  L.L.D., 
John  Tatlock,  Jr., 


President. 
Vice-President. 
General  Manager. 
2d  Vice-President. 
Secretary. 
Assistant  Secretary. 

Auditor. 
F.I.  A.,    ,  Actuary. 

Assistant  Actuary. 
Charles  B.  Perry, 


Samuel  E.  Sproulls, 
Samuel  D.  Babcock, 
George  S.  Coe, 
Richard  A.  McCurdy, 
James  C.  Holden, 
Hermann  C.  von  Post, 
Alexander  H.  Rice, 
Lewis  May, 


Board  of 
S.  Van  Rensselaer  Cruger, 
Charles  R.  Henderson, 
George  Bliss, 
Rufus  W.  Peckham, 
J.  Hobart  Herrick, 
Wm.  P.  Dixon, 
Robert  A.  Granniss, 
Henry  H.  Rogers, 


William  G.  Davies, 

Gustavus  S.  Winston,  M.  D., 

E.  J.  Marsh,  M.  D., 
Granville  M.  White,  M.  D., 
Frederick  Cromwell, 
John  A.  Fonda, 
William  W.  Richards. 
William  P.  Sands, 
Edward  P.  Holden, 

2d  Assistant  Actuary. 

Trustees. 

Theodore  Morford, 
Henry  W.  Smith, 
Robert  Olyphant, 
Geo.  F.  Baker, 
Dudley  Olcott, 
Frederick  Cromwell, 
Julian  T.  Davies, 
Robert  Sewell, 


General  Solicitor. 

Medical  Directors. 

Treasurer. 
Assistant  Treasurer. 
Comptroller. 
Cashier. 
Assistant  Cashier. 


William  Babcock, 
Stuyvesant  Fish, 
Augustus  D.  Juilliard, 
Charles  E.  Miller. 
H.  Walter  Webb, 
Walter  R.  Gillette. 
James  E.  Granniss. 
David  C.  Robinson. 


Oliver  Harriman, 


Jno.  W.  Auchincloss, 


George  Griswold  Haven. 


THE  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  was  organized  in  1843,  without  capital,  and  has  ever  since 
been  conducted  upon  the  purely  mutual  principle.  At  the  close  of  1891,  the  Company  had  224,815 
policies  in  force,  insuring  $695,484,158.  The  assets  reported,  aggregated  $159,507,138;  the  liabilities 
were  $147,476,171;  leaving  a  surplus  over  and  above  every  liability  of  $12,030,967.  The  assets  at  this 
date  (Dec.  1st,  1891),  exceed  $170,000,000.  The  business  of  189 1  showed  an  increase  over  the  business 
of  1890  as  follows:  In  assets,  $12,526,584.81;  in  reserve  on  policies  and  surplus,  $11,888,686.92;  in  re- 
ceipts, $2,655,955.84;  in  payments  to  policy-holders,  $1,782,511.81;  in  risks  assumed,  4,178  policies, 
$10,096,013;  in  risks  in  force,  27,228  policies,  $57,442,978.  The  Mutual  Life  issues  every  desirable  form 
of  policy,  and  the  financial  results  to  the  insured  have  been  better  than  those  attained  by  policy-holders 
in  any  other  company  in  the  world.  Its  organization  being  of  a  mutual  character,  with  common  benefits 
and  common  responsibilities,  its  patrons  not  only  have  a  greater  force  in  its  conduct,  but  are  shown 
greater  consideration  in  their  individual  capacities.  All  improper  or  fraudulent  claims  are  promptly  re- 
pudiated, and  all  doubtful  ones  rigorously  examined;  but  on  the  other  hand,  to  claims  which  are  not 
technically  accurate,  but  back  of  which  honest  intentions  are  found,  much  more  attention  and  practical 
appreciation  are  shown  than  in  organizations  where  the  good  of  one  is  not  the  concern  of  all.  Nothing 
is  peremptorily  denied  in  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  under  its  present  management,  and  noth- 
ing is  carelessly  assented  to.  The  company  comes  as  near  offering  ideal  conditions  to  those  who  seek 
insurance  investment  as  man  can  in  this  light  imagine. 

The  building,  which  is  considered  one  of  the  finest  of  its  kind  in  the  city,  occupies  the  whole  Nassau 
street  front,  between  Cedar  and  Liberty  streets.  It  is  eight  stories  in  height,  exclusive  of  the  basement. 
The  style  is  Italian  Rennaisance,  and  the  treatment  throughout  is  simple  and  massive.  The  motive  of 
the  front  consists  of  three  main  horizontal  divisions,  each  answering  to  three  stories.  This  large  mode 
of  treatment  gives  quiet  dignity  to  the  work,  meeting  and  overcoming  the  difficulty  presented  in  treating 
the  great  number  of  windows  which  are  a  practical  necessity  in  large  office  buildings. 

The  chief  feature  of  the  facade  is  the  beautiful  entrance  portico  in  the  middle.  It  is  two  stories  in 
height,  the  lower  opening  is  square-headed  and  forms  a  very  imposing  entrance,  being  flanked  by  two 
massive  polished  Quincy  granite  columns.  The  upper  story  consists  of  an  arched  opening  springing  from 
two  smaller  granite  shafts,  next  to  which  are  two  corner  piers,  paneled  on  their  faces  and  enriched  with 
carving.  The  capitals  of  these  piers  are  adorned  with  heads,  typical  of  the  four  grand  divisions  of  the 
earth:  Europe,  Asia,  Africa  and  America. 

The  interior  is  designed  with  the  same  breadth  of  feeling  as  the  exterior;  a  quiet  dignity  with  ample 
richness  admirably  placed,  and  where  it  tells  the  most,  pervades  the  whole. 

The  entrance  hall  has  had  considerable  luxury  of  ornament  bestowed  upon  it.  Pilasters  of  Algerian 
onyx  are  placed  equidistant,  varying  somewhat  to  suit  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  elevators.  The 
floors  and  walls  are  lined  with  white  Italian  marble,  and  the  ceiling  is  richly  coffered. 


Charles  W.  Clinton,  Architect. 

MUTUAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY. — 34  Nassau  Street. 


ITABLE  BUILDING. 


^ETWEEN  Wall  street  and  the  City  Hall  Park  many  large  buildings  are 
conspicuous  on  Broadway.  The  best  known  of  these  is  the  Equitable  Build- 
ing, the  home  office  of  the  Equitable  Life  Assurance  Society,  at  120  Broadway,  and 
occupying  almost  the  entire  block  bounded  by  Broadway  and  Nassau,  Pine  and 
Cedar  streets.  Opening  upon  these  four  streets,  its  ground  floor  is  much  used  as  a 
thoroughfare,  and  part  of  it,  "  the  Arcade,"  is  divided  up  into  partitions  for  stores. 
Here  also  is  the  well  known  Savarin  restaurant,  named  after  the  French  gourmet, 
who  considered  that  a  man  who  added  to  the  world's  knowledge  of  cookery  deserved 
better  of  the  human  race  than  he  who  discovered  a  new  planet.  The  occupants  of 
the  building  number  about  3,500,  and  some  30,000  people  are  said  to  pass  through 
it  daily. 

The  building  is  of  granite,  with  a  massive  coffered  Roman  arch  for  its  main 
entrance  in  the  middle  of  the  Broadway  front.  The  architecture  is  Romanesque. 
All  the  appointments  are  of  the  most  approved  kind.  Its  tenants  have  the  privilege 
of  using  an  excellent  law  library,  and  it  also  houses  the  Lawyers'  Club,  one  of  the 
best  known  down  town  clubs. 

In  the  tower,  which  is  the  main  feature  of  the  Broadway  front,  is  the  United 
States  Signal  Service,  and  on  an  iron  trellis  tower  built  up  from  the  roof,  is  the 
apparatus  of  the  service.    Signals  are  made  with  flags  by  day  and  lanterns  at  night. 


DELAWARE  &  HUDSON  CANAL  COMPANY'S  R.  R.  BUILDING— 21  Corti.andt  Street. 


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THE  EAST  RIVER  BRIDGE. 


r  I  'HE  East  River  Bridge  terminus  is  on  Park  Row,  near  the  City  Hall.  This  is 
the  largest  suspension  bridge  in  the  world,  and  is  a  marvel  of  strength,  grace 
and  beauty.  The  finest  view  of  it  is  had  in  crossing  the  river  by  the  Fulton  or  Wall 
street  ferry  boats,  as  its  graceful  lines  are  seen  to  best  advantage  from  mid-stream  at 
the  points  where  these  ferry  lines  cross.  It  is  also  interesting  to  cross  the  bridge  on 
foot,  as  the  best  views  up  and  down  the  river  are  to  be  had  from  the  walk  for  foot 
passengers. 

The  bridge  was  formally  opened  May  24,  1883.  It  was  planned  and  its  con- 
struction begun  by  John  A.  Roebling,  the  famous  bridge  builder.  He  was  fatally 
injured  in  an  accident  in  the  course  of  the  bridge's  construction,  the  work  being  com- 
pleted by  his  son,  who  was  stricken  with  caisson  disease  in  1870,  but  superin- 
tended the  construction  from  his  Brooklyn  residence,  from  which  a  view  of  the 
bridge  could  be  had. 

The  archways  through  the  towers  are  thirty-one  and  one-half  feet  wide  and 
120  feet  and  a  fraction  high.  The  floor  of  the  bridge,  supported  by  four  cables  of 
sixteen  inches  diameter,  is  divided  into  five  parts — two  outside  roadways  for  vehicles, 
two  intermediate  roadbeds  for  cable  cars,  and  the  walk  for  foot  passengers  in  the 
middle.  The  total  length  of  the  bridge  is  5,989  feet  ;  its  width  eighty-five  feet.  The 
length  of  wire  used  in  the  four  cables  is  14,361  miles.  The  height  of  each  tower 
above  high  water  mark  is  272  feet,  and  the  centre  of  the  river  span  135  feet. 


VANDERBILT  MANSIONS. 


1FTH  AVENUE  is  perhaps  the  most  famous  thoroughfare  in  the  United  States.    It  suggests 


wealth,  fashion  and  all  their  concommitant  luxuries.  No  block  on  this  avenue  is  regarded  with 
greater  interest  by  visitors  than  that  on  the  west  side,  between  Fifty-first  and  Fifty-second  streets,  which 
is  occupied  by  the  "  Vanderbilt  mansions."  These  are  two  brown-stone  houses,  first  occupied  in  Janu- 
ary, 1882,  connected  by  a  vestibule,  in  the  middle  of  the  block.  Rich  oak  wainscoting,  red  African 
marble,  hangings  in  many  warm  tints,  and  designs  in  antique  Greek  and  Japanese,  are  features  of  the 
interior  decoration  of  these  structures.  Connected  with  the  Fifty-first  street  house  is  a  superb  picture 
gallery,  hung  chiefly  with  masterpieces  of  French  art,  conspicuous  among  the  French  artists  represented 
being  Detaille,  Meissonier,  Millet  and  Delacroix.  The  paintings  include  a  portrait  of  William  H.  Van- 
derbilt, by  Meissonier.  On  the  north  side  of  Fifty-second  street  is  the  residence  of  VV.  K.  Vanderbilt, 
and  Cornelius  Vanderbilt's  house  is  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Fifty-seventh  street. 


ENTRAL  PARK  is  New  York's  great  pleasure  ground.    It  was  once  a  waste  of  rock,  bush  and 


marsh.  Now  it  is  a  rolling  stretch  of  meadow,  lake  and  dell — one  of  the  most  beautiful  parks  in 
the  world  ;  in  fact,  New  Yorkers  consider  it  the  most  beautiful.  It  is  about  two  and  one-half  miles  in 
length,  one  and  one-half  miles  in  breadth,  and  has  an  acreage  of  840.  Drives,  bridle  paths  and  walks 
aggregate  forty-four  miles.  The  trees,  shrubs  and  vines  exceed  half  a  million  in  number,  and  the 
benches,  arbors,  etc.,  afford  seating  accommodation  for  some  11,000  people. 

There  is  rowing  on  the  lakes,  driving  in  goat  carts,  riding  on  donkeys,  tennis  and  base-ball. 
Statues,  the  famous  Obelisk,  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and,  not  far  from  the  Park,  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  are  all  objects  of  interest. 

The  illustration  shows  one  of  the  most  attractive  reaches  of  Central  Park,  the  Esplanade  and 
Plaza,  reached  by  way  of  the  mall,  another  famous  part  of  this  pleasure  ground.  On  the  Esplanade  is 
the  Bethesda  Fountain,  and  at  its  edge  the  lake,  with  numerous  nooks  and  its  graceful  bridges. 


PARK. 


ESPLANADE,  CENTRAL  PARK. 


NEW  YORK 


DESCRIBED  AND  ILLUSTRATED 


A  Tour  Around  New  York  and  My  Summer  Acre. 

Being  the  Recreations  of  Mr.  Felix  Oldboy.    By  John  Flavel  Mines,  LL.  D. 
Illustrated.    8vo,  cloth, 


This  book  is  a  loving  tribute  to  the  fame  of  a 
city  every  way  worthy  of  the  affection  of  its  inhabi- 
tants. It  is  also  the  self-revelation  of  a  thoughtful, 
kindly  man.  Almost  every  page  shows  not  obtru- 
sively, but  naturally  and  clearly,  something  of  the 
author  himself.  The  illustrations  are  suggestive. 
They  convey  in  themselves  more  than  an  outline  of 
the  history  of  the  city. — N.  Y.  Tribune. 

The  volume  is  richly  illustrated  and  will  be 
treasured,  not  only  by  the  author's  many  friends, 
but  by  those  who  were  pleased  with  the  ingenious 
and  instructive  papers. — Hartford  Post. 

Mr.  Mines  was  one  of  the  most  graphic  of  writers, 
and  these  sketches,  portraying  as  they  do  the  life 
of  the  city  fifty  years  ago,  are  rich  in  historical  and 
legendary  reminiscence. — Boston  Traveller. 

They  are  charming  specimens  of  descriptive  nar- 
ration, and  they  have  an  historical  value  that  time 
is  likely  to  enhance,  rather  than  diminish.  *  *  * 
This  book  is  something  to  linger  over  in  leisure 
moments,  to  enjoy  as  one  would  enjoy  the  conver- 


x.oo. 


sation  of  a  genuiue  "old-timer,"  and  from  it  one 
may  learn  a  world  of  facts  that  have  vanished  from 
common  knowledge.—  Boston  Beacon. 

It  is  old  New  York,  of  which  "  Felix  Oldboy  " 
wrote,  and  the  spirit  in  which  he  approached  it  is 
expressed  in  his  own  saying  :  "To  me  it  is  all  a 
sweet  and  stately  epic."  Indeed  he  has  managed 
to  invest  that  material  Manhattan  island  with  a 
glamour  of  poetry  and  romance,  while  setting  down 
quaint  and  curious  facts  about  the  town  in  its  early 
days.  The  literary  quality,  no  less  than  the  mass 
of  useful  information  they  contain,  made  these 
papers  well  worth  issuing  in  this  beautfully  illus- 
trated volume. — Chicago  limes. 

In  "A  Tour  Around  New  York"  the  Harpers 
have  produced  very  handsomely  the  retrospective 
sketches  of  New  York  which  the  late  John  Flavel 
M  ines  ( Mr.  Felix  Oldboy)  wrote.  They  are  charm- 
ingly done,  and  their  reminiscent  peculiarity  lends 
a  fascinatfng  interest  to  them.  The  book  is  abund- 
antly and  appropriately  illustrated. — New  York  Sun. 


New  York  and  Its  Environs. 

By  Gustav  Kobbe.     With  Maps,  Plans  and  Illustrations.    16///0,  Cloth,  $1.00. 


It  is  orderly  in  its  arrangement  and  discriminat- 
ing in  its  selection,  and  compresses  a  great  deal  of 
information  into  less  than  300  pages.- — N.  Y.  Post. 

A  handy  little  book,  with  good  maps,  clear, 
though  on  a  small  scale.  *  *  *  It  is  compact 
and  well  digested — Atlantic  Monthly. 

Mr.  Kobbe  has  succeeded  in  getting  an  immense 
amount  of  exceedingly  useful  information  into  this 
book,  and  he  has  put  it  together  in  excellent  form. 
*  *  *  There  are  several  maps,  noteworthy  for 
the  admirable  definition  of  their  lines ;  and  a  num- 
ber of  satisfactory  half-tone  illustrations. — Boston 
Heacon. 

An  attractive  book  on  a  subject  interesting  to 
citizen  and  stranger  alike. — Critic,  N.  Y. 


Looking  over  the  book  for  practical  information, 
nothing  of  use  seems  to  have  been  forgotten.  *  *  * 
Not  alone  visitors,  but  New  Yorkers  will  find  the 
book  a  valuable  one. — New  York  Times. 

In  many  ways  the  best  guide  book  of  this  city 
that  has  been  published. — New  York  Mail  and 
Express. 

It  is  just  such  a  book  as  any  person  coming  for 
the  first  time  from  the  West,  the  South,  or  Europe, 
will  want  to  see  before  trying  to  explore  the  metro- 
polis.— New  York  Herald. 

In  size,  workmanship,  maps  and  illustrations  this 
is  a  convenient  guide  to  the  City  of  New  York. 
The  historic  part  could  not  be  done  better.  —Inde- 
pendent, N.  Y. 


Published  by  HARPLR  &  BROTHERS,  New  York. 

The  above  works  are  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  ivill  be  sent  by  the  publishers,  postage  prepaid,  to  any 
part  of  the  United  States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Harper's  New  Catalogue  ivill  be 
sent  by  mail  on  receipt  of  ten  Cents. 


IB 


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